THREE US childcare workers have been arrested after they allegedly arranged for organised battles between toddlers that they also filmed.

The Hands of Our Future daycare in Delaware has had its licence suspended and workers Tiana Harris, 49, Lisa Parker, 47, and Estefania Myers, 21, were charged on two counts of second-degree assault and reckless endangerment, and nine counts of endangering the welfare of a child.

The Delaware Online news website reports that the two three-year-olds punched each other in the face while seven other children were in the area. Ms Harris and Ms Myers were "shown and heard laughing and encouraging the altercation."

The website said Ms Parker grabbed the child that was crying and wanting to stop and pushed him back into the fray.

Parents were invited to attend a 45-minute information session on Monday night with police and social services but were not shown a copy of the video.

The incident, which was filmed five months ago, was discovered at the weekend by a police officer who saw the video on a mobile phone.

Dover Police Capt Tim Stump described the event as "shocking, disturbing and infuriating."